About

$40,392

pledged of $35,000 goal

111

backers

The Minneapolis Riverfront on St. Anthony Main is a jewel on the Mississippi River. We want to keep re-energizing our neighborhood with a new concept bar/restaurant in the space formerly occupied by Kikugawa restaurant. Our idea? A modern-day saloon with creative drinks, delicious food, a year-round patio, and a great stage for live local music and entertainment.

Its full name is Mattie St. Clair’s House of Spirits on Main Street, but you can call it Mattie's on Main for short.

Who Are We?

We're Dean Schlaak and Tom DeGree, owners of the Wilde Roast Cafe (which is right next door to the new Mattie's space) along with our longtime friend and business partner Brian Gilligan. We're working with noted restaurant design firm Smart Associates to design a space that's warm and inviting.

Who is this Mattie St. Clair character?

The bar is named after Mattie St. Clair (well, that was one of her aliases), a well-known madam and brothel owner in Minneapolis in the late 1800s, whose brothel was located near this site. We're not condoning prostitution, obviously; we're celebrating the rich and colorful history of Minneapolis, and using it as inspiration for the design, menu, drinks and more. We'll be compiling more info about Ms. St. Clair (arrest records! a struggle over hot diamonds!) and adding it to our website soon.

What is our vision and goals?

Renovation of the 5860 square foot space has already begun, and we are aiming for an opening date in the spring of 2014.

We want to create a place where it’s easy to enjoy the company of friends, and make new ones. The year-round patio will have great views of the Mississippi River and downtown Minneapolis. Our aim is to serve as a comfortable neighborhood gathering space with quality food and entertainment. We’re excited to be working with Smart Associates to create a space that is warm, welcoming, and with just maybe a hint of naughtiness from the bar’s namesake.

Mattie’s on Main will feature a full liquor bar, 16 local beers on tap, and signature craft cocktails. In addition, the bar will feature upscale pub food, unique appetizers, adult shakes, and signature desserts from the Wilde Roast Cafe Pastry Chef Jeff Christianson. The performance stage area of the restaurant will provide space for live music acts, local performers, and themed events.

Why Kickstarter?

The money we raise on Kickstarter will help us upgrade the customer experience at Mattie’s, bringing an even more charming and unique atmosphere to our customers. Our vision for the space includes upgrading the existing atrium into a year round patio with an open air feel and installing the best sound system available.

Year ‘Round Patio

Outdoor dining is very popular in the Twin Cities, but our warm weather season is grossly short. At Mattie’s, we want to leverage the benefits of our extensive atrium space to extend the patio season for our guests. Part of our vision is to install functioning windows/doors in the atrium that will allow Mattie’s guests to get the full benefit of patio dining in the summer, and summer-like dining throughout the year. Working with an historic building, the Mattie’s team will need to maintain the character of the building and charm of the neighborhood. This will add additional, unexpected costs, but we refuse to cut any corners when renovating the atrium into a year ‘round patio.

Music and Entertainment System

There are just not enough spaces in the Twin Cities that offer an intimate but high-quality entertainment venue. We want our performers to look great and sound great, and we want our guests to enjoy every second of their hard work. A reputation of diverse musical experiences coupled with incredible food and cocktails is the goal of Mattie’s management team. We want to be known as a place where everyone feels comfortable coming on a regular basis to experience new artists along with tried and true favorites.

One of the key elements to becoming a great music venue is to invest in a high quality sound system that is fully integrated and provides consistent, excellent sound throughout the space. We’ve all visited venues with inferior sound systems, and know that an evening can be ruined for both the performers and the audience if the sound and lights are substandard. This will not be the case at Mattie’s! We have been working with some of the Twin Cities’ premier sound designers to develop and install a state of the art sound and light system for Mattie’s. We currently have estimates for 3 systems that we refer to as “Good” “Better” and “Best” - all of these systems meet our objectives, but the “Better” and “Best” plans are more expensive than expected. With the success of this Kickstarter campaign, we will be able to investing the “Best” option and install the most impressive system possible.

And so much more...

In addition to helping with the upgrades above, using Kickstarter is a great way for us to get the word out to the community, our customers and future performers about Mattie’s. Additionally, we're offering some amazing perks that will only be available through this Kickstarter campaign that will enhance your experience at Mattie’s and hopefully keep you coming back for more!

Please review the Kickstarter rewards at the right and choose something that is meaningful to you. If there is an experience you're interested in that we didn't list, feel free to contact us and we will put together a custom experience for you. Also, please feek free to TELL YOUR FRIENDS about us. Word of mouth is one of the best tools available for new businesses. As a friend of Mattie's on Main, we hope you will tell your friends about our venture and the opportunity for them to participate in our Kickstarter Campaign. Your support right now can really help Mattie's on Main be one of the best entertainment restaurants in the Cities.

Thank you in advance for your support. We look forward to seeing you at the Grand Opening event!

Risks and challenges

The bulk of the challenge has been met... we've got the space secured and construction is underway. Our goal is to open in spring of 2014, but any construction project is subject to delays. Everyone who backs this project will receive updates on the progress of our new building and photos of Mattie's on Main coming together, making you the first to know all the latest news about our construction and opening. We've built out commercial spaces before with the Wilde Roast Cafe's two different locations, so we are confident that we'll be able to take on any challenges.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $75 or more
About $75

“One Night Stand” - Donate $75 to our project and you will receive an official “Mattie’s on Main” T-shirt along with your name listed prominently in “Mattie’s Black Book." and a complimentary appetizer on your first visit to Mattie's on Main.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $100 or more
About $100

“Patrons of Mattie” receive a limited edition “Mattie’s on Main” T-shirt along with the official pilsner glass and having their name listed prominently in “Mattie’s Black Book." Patron's of Mattie's (and one guest) will also be invited to the Grand Opening celebration where they can get a sneak peek of the new place and sample our menu items.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 125 or more
About US$ 125

"Look into the past" - Choose this reward and you will receive an official “Mattie’s on Main” T-shirt and an invitation to attend a book reading luncheon at Mattie's hosted by Penny Petersen, author of "Minneapolis Madams: The Lost History of Prostitution on the Riverfront." This book is a surprising and riveting account of the Minneapolis red-light district and the powerful madams who ran it. Attendees of our luncheon will leave with a signed copy of "Minneapolis Madams" and an updated knowledge of the rich history of Mattie's neighborhood. We will, of course, also list your name in "Mattie's Little Black Book" to recognize your support!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $150 or more
About $150

"The Morning after" - Choose this reward and you will receive 4 official “Mattie’s on Main” T-shirts and a complimentary prime table for four during one of our signature theme brunches. You and your guests will be immersed in an audio atmosphere featuring sounds from a specific musical genre (Jazz, Gospel, Broadway) along with food and drink specials related to that theme. With this reward, we will, of course, also list your name in "Mattie's Little Black Book" to recognize your support!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $200 or more
About $200

"Private Session" – In addition to the benefits of being a "Patron of Mattie's" (See above), this VIP Package offers the client a voucher for a complete dinner for two anytime in the first three months of operation. (Alcohol not included per Kickstarter's rules).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $200 or more
About $200

"Our Milkshakes Bring all the Boys to the Yard". If you’re a creative type, choose this package and you and a guest will share a private session with our Mixologists to design and name an “Adult Milk Shake of the Month.” Your creation will be listed on our menu, recognizing you as the creator.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $200 or more
About $200

"A Month of Sweet Somethings" - If milkshakes aren’t your thing, choose this package and you and a guest will share a private session with our Pastry Chef to design and name an “A Dessert of the Month.” Your creation will be listed on our menu, recognizing you as the creator.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $300 or more
About $300

"Ooh Ahh"- (10 available) – Celebrate your independence at Mattie’s. In addition to receiving the Rewards of being "Patron of Mattie's" (see above), we will provide a 4 course dinner for 2 in our year round patio where you and your date can view the July 4th fireworks on the Mississippi River. (Alcohol not included per Kickstarter's rules).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $300 or more
About $300

"AQUATENNIAL Ooh Ahh"- (10 available) –– . In addition to receiving the Rewards of being "Patron of Mattie's" (see above), we will provide a 4 course dinner for 2 in our year round patio where you and your date can end one of the Ten Best Days of Summer with a prime viewing spot for the Aquatennial Fireworks on the Mississippi River. (Alcohol not included per Kickstarter's rules).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $400 or more
About $400

"Starter Club" - Mattie’s regulars often enjoy the activities leading up to the main event. Clients choosing this VIP package will be entitled to an appetizer for 2 once a month for an entire year in addition to the rewards of being a "Patron of Mattie's" (See above)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

"Brunch Club" - If you wake up on the weekends needing what Mattie’s has to offer, you can be a member of our VIP Brunch Club where once a month for an entire year, you and a guest have a prime location and complimentary entrees at our Signature themed brunches. In addition you will receive all of the benefits related to being a "Patron of Mattie's". (Alcohol not included per Kickstarter's rules).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,500 or more
About $1,500

"The BIG BANG" (one available) – Celebrate your independence at Mattie’s. We will provide a 4 course dinner for 16 in our private atrium dining room where you and your guests can view the July 4th fireworks on the Mississippi River. (Alcohol not included per Kickstarter's rules).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,500 or more
About $1,500

"The Aquatennial Climax" (one available) – As part of the 10 best days of summer, we will provide a 4 course dinner for 16 in our private atrium dining room where you and your guests can view the Aquatennial fireworks on the Mississippi River. (Alcohol not included per Kickstarter's rules).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $3,000 or more
About $3,000

"Frat Party" - We will close the restaurant on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday night and host a private, 4 course dinner for you and up to 75 of your closest friends. This event would be closed to the public and your party would have access to the full restaurant including the stage where you can plan a private concert. ( Note : Not available on holidays or during Aquatennial). (Alcohol not included per Kickstarter's rules).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 4,000 or more
About US$ 4,000

"Corporate Boondoggle" – Is your work group stressed and needing some attention?

Mattie’s has what you need. Choose this VIP package and we will host a Corporate Retreat complete with Breakfast and Lunch service for 75 in the restaurant. Coffee/Juice/Pastries and hot breakfast included, as well as a 3 course lunch with snacks and beverages in between. This event will book the restaurant from 7am-3:30pm on any non-holiday weekday. Your group will have access to the entire restaurant including the stage area and A/V system which can be used for presentations and announcements. (Alcohol not included per Kickstarter's rules).